Southern Maine Sits Atop Preseason Coaches' Poll

NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. - The University of Southern Maine earned five first place votes and 61 total points to sit atop the 2009 Little East Conference Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll after a vote by each of the eight head coaches. The Huskies have earned at least a share of the top spot in five of the past nine surveys.

Eastern Connecticut State University (55) edged Keene State College (52) by just three points for the second position, while Rhode Island College (39) rounds out the top half of the eight-team field. The Warriors received a pair of first place votes, while the Owls secured the remaining tally.

Head Coach Ed Flaherty led Southern Maine to the program's 10th season with at least 30 victories in 2008, posting an overall record of 36-14. The Huskies earned an at-large berth into the NCAA Division III Tournament, entering the fray seeded fourth in the New England Region. Flaherty's charges reached the championship round of the regional, before bowing to the eventual national champion, Trinity College (Conn.). Southern Maine pinned 11 conference victories in its ledger last season to share second place in the Little East standings with the Warriors. Seeded third, the Huskies advanced to the finals of the 2008 Little East Conference Championship Tournament. Flaherty will welcome back a pair of ABCA Division III All-Americans in senior shortstop Chris Burleson (Portland, Maine) and senior outfielder Anthony D'Alfonso (Westbrook, Maine).

A year ago, Eastern Connecticut (32-15-1) qualified for its 29th NCAA Division III Tournament in the 33-year history of the championship. The Warriors won 17 of their final 19 contests to earn the second seed in the Little East Conference Championship Tournament. Head Coach Bill Holowaty and Eastern Connecticut bowed out to the eventual champions, Keene State College Owls, in the semifinals. The Warriors return four All-New England Region picks, including 2007 National Player of the Year senior Shawn Gilblair (Windham, Conn.). 

Keene State College posted the program's third consecutive 30-plus win season, establishing a new standard for victories with a 34-11 mark. The Owls captured the program's first Little East Conference Tournament Championship and secured the program's second NCAA Division III New England Regional berth. Keene State College boasted the conference's most potent batting order, sporting a .358 team batting average. The Owls return four All-Little East Conference selections into the fold, including the 2008 Co-Rookie of the Year Bobby Doyon (Keene, N.H.).

Head Coach Jay Grenier led the Anchormen to their fifth consecutive campaign with at least 19 victories last spring, sporting a 24-15 overall mark. Rhode Island College posted an 8-6 record in the conference circuit for the third straight season to earn the fourth seed in the annual Little East Tournament. Grenier will welcome back three student-athletes that hit above the .300 mark in 2008, led by junior outfielder Jared Rossi (Johnston, R.I.).

Each of the eight Little East Conference teams will advance to the 2009 Little East Conference Championship Tournament. The top four teams in the final regular season standings will host a best two-of-three quarterfinal round series between May 2-3. The quarterfinal winners will advance for a final four double elimination tournament from May 7-9. The 2009 Little East Conference Championship Champion will earn the automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Completing the preseason poll in projected order of finish in the regular season standings are University of Massachusetts Boston (31), Western Connecticut State University (24), Plymouth State University (15), and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (11).